Apparatus fob drying and shaping



R. J. BEEDE Dec. 26, 1939.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND SHAPING THE SHOULDERS OF GARMENTS Filed April4, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

INVENTOR. 47 Russe /I E7550:

J ATTBRNEY.

Dec. 26, 1939. R. J. BEEDE 2,184,375

APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND SHAPING THE SHOULDERS OF GARMENTS Filed April4, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J1 3 F 5 2 J9 5g 65 II INVENTOR.

RUEERTjEEEDE 36 A ATTORNEY.

R. J. BEEDE Dec. 26, 1939.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND SHAPING THE SHOULDERS OF GARMENTS Filed April4, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQR Robert J. Beede B d M ATTORNEY Dec.26, 1939. R BEEDE 2,184,375

APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND SHAPING THE SHOULDERS OF GARMENTS Filed April4, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR R0 ber'c J. Beede WWQM ATTORNEYPatented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND SHAPING.

THE SHOULDEBS OF GARMENTS Robert J. Beede, Providence, R. 1., assignorto Pantex Pressing Machine, Inc., Central Falls, R. L, a corporation ofDelaware Application April 4, 1938, Serial No. 200,002 Claims.(01.223140) My present invention relates to improvements in garmentpressing or shaping machines, and especially to garment pressing orshaping machines adapted to press or shape and dry the 5 shoulders ofcoats. This application is acontinuation in part of my application, S.N. 33,907,

filed on July 30, 1935, allowed October 6, 1937, for Apparatus fordrying and shaping the shoulders of garments.

10, The coats of summer clothing have little or no padding at theshoulders, and are, commonly subjected to laundering or washing, and insome instances to dry cleaning. The usual purpose of the padding inshoulders of coats, as is well known, is to preserve or maintain theproper shape thereof, but since such padding is not usually provided insummer clothing it is difiicult to properly shape the shoulders of thecoats after laundering. v

The principal general object of my present .in-

vention is to provide an apparatus adapted to receivethe shouldersandadjacent partsv of the.

shaping and drying operation to eifect a smoothand neat appearance.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in a machine ofthe character mentioned 35, shoulder shaping and drying devices whichare normally in open or shoulder stretching and shaping position, andwhich must be manually closed or positioned to receive the shoulders andadjacent portions of the sleeves of coats; and which automaticallyassume said normal position properly stretching or shaping the shouldersand portions of the sleeves adjacent thereto-without exerting manualforce which might rip the scams or tear the cloth. 45 A further objectof my invention is to provide in such a device means to properly gripthe crotch or lower portion of the sleeve head adjacent the seam line toinsure that the upper portion of the sleeve and adjacent parts of thecoat, including 50 the shoulder thereof, are evenly shaped and pressed.

A further object of my invention is to provide means capable ofpositively selectively gripping the crotches of sleeves of differentsizes to selec- 55 tively function to positively grip, shape and pressand jaw.

the sleevesand adjacent shoulder portions of; i

diiferent sized coats. I i

Another specific object of my inventi n resides in the provision ofapparatus of, the .abovejtype in which the pairs of shoulder shaping anddrying devices are simultaneously or collectively operated although, ifdesired, may be individually operated. i v

The foregoing and other objects, and advan' tages of the invention willbecome-more appar- 10.

ent and will be pointed out during the course of the following detaileddescription of the accompanying drawings, invwhich:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine em bodying my present inventionwithparts broke 15,

Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with portions of thebase of the machine broken away. Y i 1 Fig. 4 is a view taken on theline 4-4 of Fig. 2. v Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal verticalsectional view through the foot operated lever and 25.

parts associated therewith.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a collar used for limiting themovementof the foot operated lever.

Fig. '7 is a rear perspective view of the machines embodying myinvention'yshown in Fig. 1. 301

Fig. 8 is a rear perspective view similar to Fig. 7, showing a coatmounted on the pressing members thereof, said pressing members beingshown in the act of pressing the coat. 1

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the top of my im-,

proved machine showing ajaw in closed position after the sleeve of thecoat has been, mounted thereon with a portion of the ,coat broken awayto show the heated stationary pressing member I g Fig. 10 is a viewsimilar to Fig.9 after the lower jawhas dropped by gravity to draw thesleeve and adjacent parts of the coat against the outer surfaces of theheated stationary member.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 5 indicates the uprights or legsof the machine connected or coupled at their bottoms ,to supports. 6which rest on the floor, and at their. tops to couplings l which supportthe table 8. In actual practice I preferably provide four of theuprights or supports 5, one at each corner of the machine, and connectthe supports or uprights to each other along the front and back ofthemachine by rods 9 connected to couplings 10 on the bases 6, while therespectivefront and back .up-.

rights are connected along the sides of the machine by struts I I, theends of which are connected to the bases 6 by pins l2.

On top of the table 8 are two couplings I3 alined with each otherlongitudinally of the table and located adjacent the front thereof aboveopenings. l4.. The couplings l3 arescrew. threadedto receive thethreaded ends of pipes i5and I6, and the pipes l6 are threaded into Tjoints I! which also receive pipes l8 communicating with theT. coupling19 also connected to a pipe 20 which,,at its other end, is connectedtoan elbow joint, 21. A pipe 22 is connected at one end to a valve 23and leads at its other end to-a source of discharge, said pipe forming apart of the exhaust and drain line. The valve 23 is connected by pipe tothe elbow 2|.

The steam which preferably serves as the heating medium, although othersuitable heating mediums may be used, is supplied through pipes 25located within and concentric with the pipes i5 and I6 and connected attheir lower ends to elbows 26 whichare also connected to pipes 21, inturn connected to the T coupling 23 communicating with the pipe 29through which the steam is supplied.

The upper ends of the-pipes I5 support the shaping and drying elementshaving threaded'engagement therewith asinclicated by the numeral 38. Thepipes l5 and 25'alsoopen into the tortuouschambers 1-H within the uppermembers 32 of the shaping and drying elements. The steam suppliedthrough the pipe 25 in the manner described circulates through thechamber3i inthe headsor shaping members 32 andfiows down throughthepipes IS with any water createdby condensation to be ejected through thedrain previously described.

The upper members 32 of the shaping and drying elements arerelativelynarrow' at their-rear ends 34 and relatively broad at theirfront ends 35 and are curved on their tops and sides to snugly fit intothe sleevesand the shoulders of coats placed thereover. The narrow ends34' enter the sleeves and facilitate positioning of the shoulderportions of the coats over the broader rounded ends 35.

Cooperating with the upper member 32 of the drying and shaping elementis a lower member 36 normally held in closed relation to the uppermember or in thedash and dot line positions of Figs. 2 and 3 tofacilitate insertion of the element into-thesleeves of coats, andautomatically operable after said insertion toassume the open or fullline position of Figs. 2 and 3' to effect smoothing of the shouldersandportions of the sleeves adjacent thereto during the drying and shapingoperation.

' The lower portion of the -memberSZ is-provided with brackets 31secured in place by screws 38 and holding therebetween a shaft or pin39. The forked ends 40 of a lever 4| are pivotally mounted. on the pinor shaft 39. Also sec ed between the forked arms of the lever 4! is apin 42 which.

front end is preferably rounded and engages a notch in the coupling 43as indicated at 52, while the front end of the plate Al extends acrossthe rear end of the lever 45 as indicated at 53, the said plate 47 beingprovided with an opening 54 through which the rear end of the lever 4|extends.

The upper member 32 may be provided with threaded adjustable plugs 56 inits lower surface,

- one of which is adapted to be abutted by a cushioning pad 57 securedto the top of the plate 41 on the member 36- as by means of a screw 58which engages through the said cushioning member between its sideupstanding arms, said cushioning member being preferably of channelformation- Preferably there are two of the shaping and pressingelements-each of the same construction, and each having connectedthereto an operating rod 44 extending through an opening 60 in the table8. The lower ends of the rods 414 are connected or seated in sockets 68on a transverse connecting part 62 of the foot operated lever, andpreferably the said sockets are provided with rubber or other cushioninginserts St to receive thelower ends of. the rods M. The sockets 8| arepreferably arranged at the ends of the transverse connecting part 62of'the foot operated lever 63, the forward end of which is provided witha treadle T. The foot operated lever 63 is also provided on its bottomand intermediate its ends with groovesor channels 64 which receive orare seated on the rod 3 extending between opposite side uprights 5 ofthe frame. The said rod 9 constitutes the fulcrum for the lever 63. Thefoot operated lever 63 is also. provided intermediate the grooves orchannels 64 with an opening receiving a collar 65', shown in detail inFigs. 5 and 6, and which limits the movement of the foot lever 63; Thecollar 65 has a groove or opening 65 which also receives the rod 9, andalso has laterally extending lugs or projections 85" which are arrangedwithin the grooves 64 of the foot operated lever 53 when the parts areassembled. A set screw S locks the collar 65 to the rod 9 againstrotational movement thereon so that the foot operated lever 53 may beoscillated when thetreadle T is depressed and released, the extent ofmovement of the lever being determined by the width of the notches 64 inwhich the extensions or lugs 65" are disposed. It should be obvious thatin one direction of movement of the lever 631 one side of the channel orgroove 64 contacts one side of the lugs or extensions 65", and viceversa. Obviously the positioning of. the collar 85 on the rod 9 is suchas to bring the lugs OTCXtEIlSiOIlS 65 within the notches or channels 64when the treadle lever is placed in position.

As has already been mentioned the member 36 is normally in the full lineor open position of Figs. 2 and 3, due to the fact that the weight ofthe forward end thereof, including the plate 4'! and supporting parts,swings said member 36 downwardly on the pivot 33 which forms the fulcrumfor the lever 4|. Hence the rods 34 are normally depressed, and thetreadle T is normally elevated.

With the foregoing in mind, when it is desired to shape and dry theshoulders of coats or similar. garments it is simply necessary for theoperator to step on the treadle T to elevate the rods M when the footlever is rocked on its pivot 9 to elevate the sockets 6!, whereby thecouplings 43- raise the levers 4i and the members 36 carried thereby tothe dot and dash line positions of Figs. 2 and 3, so that the pressingand shaping elements comprising the parts 32 and 36 are established intheir closed positions and mayreadily receive the arm openings andshoulders '5 of coats placed thereon. It is then-simply necessary forthe operator to release the treadle T whereby the gravitation of theparts 36 to open position will stretch the portions of the sleeves andshoulders arranged over the parts 32 and 3B 10 into smooth condition sothat the heat passing through the chamber 3! and the smooth roundedsurfaces of the members 32 will quickly shape and dry the sleeves andadjacent shoulder portions of the coats without the exertion of manualeffort or 15 force which might tear the'seams if not properly applied.

I have shown in Figs. 7-10 a slightly different embodiment of myinvention employing means preferably comprising a roughened portion 18ex- 20 tending a distance rearwardly from the front end of said jaw 38to positively grip the crotch of the sleeve to draw the sleeve andadjacent portions of the coat against the outer surfaces of the heatingstationary member 32, including the top 25 portion 12 thereof preferablyarcuate in vertical section to fit the contour of the sleeve and thefront end 14 thereof also preferably arcuate in horizontal section tofit the contour of the shoulder. While said means or roughened portion10 30 may be of any shape, to positively grip the sleeve crotch at thispointI preferably provide for this purpose a plurality of descendingmeans of different heights extending a distance rearwardly from thefront end of said jaw 38 to positively selectively grip the crotches ofsleeves of. different sizes on different descending portions thereof,and in my preferred embodiment said means of different heightspreferably comprises a plurality of substantially concentricsubstantially circular o descending steps 16.

Figs. 8-10 show the operation of my improved machine in use. The coat 80is grasped by the operator so as to lie in the rear of the rearwardlyprojecting stationary members 32 with the sleeves 45 82 thereofsubstantially in line with said stationary members 32. The coat 88 isthen drawn forwardly so that the upper portions of the sleeves or seamlines 86 are brought forward until each rests. against a selected step16 suitable for the size of 50 the sleeve as shown in Fig. 9. The footis then raised from the treadle T permitting the lower jaws 36 to dropas shown in Fig. 10 and as the lower jaws drop they will positively gripthe sleeve crotches B3 to draw the sleeves downwardly and 55 hence drawthe opposite portions of the sleeve heads 84 against the upper surfaces12 of the stationary members and the adjacent portions of the shouldersagainst the front surfaces 14 of the stationary members 36, the seamlines 86 sub- 7 stantially abutting the rounded front top ends betweensaid portions 12 and M to evenly draw the sleeves and adjacent portionsof the coat against the outer surfaces of the top and front portions 12and 1d of the heated stationary members 32 as 75 shown in Figs. 8 and10.

It is apparent thatsleeves of different sizeswill 6i connected toindividual foot levers tobe sepa rately operated. Of course the spacingbetween the shaping elements is such as to accommodate both shoulders ofcoats over a range of-various sizes, that is, they are sufficientlyclose together to permit the coat shoulders to be properly posi- 15tioned whether the coat be of small size or. large size.

I have also found in'actual operation that it is not necessary toprovide for the intermittent supply of steam or other heating mediumthrough the elements 32 as in the case of many garment pressingmachines, but that the heating medium or steam may continuously flowthrough the chamber 3! of each element and may be cut off by the handoperated valves in the supply pipes and drain pipes above mentioned.

In the embodiment shown I have shown the treadle T in the front of themachine to be operated by the operator and with the enlarged ends of thestationary members 32 also at the front and I, therefore, employ thewords forwardly and rearwardly and front and rear in the claims inreference to the specific structure shown although it is obvious that ifdesired the direction a in which the stationary members 32 pointrelative 35 to the balance of the machine may be varied in use asdesired. I employ the words sleeve crotch to signify the portion of thesleeve andcoat adjacent the portion of the sleeve seam underneath thearm pit. 40

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specificembodiment shown and that various deviations may be madetherefromwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims. 5

What I claim is:

1. A substantially horizontal stationary member having an enlarged endhaving its end and upper surfaces approximately at right angles to eachother and shaped to correspond to the inner con tour of the shoulder andupper sleeve portion of a coat, said member tapering therefrom'to itsrear end with a smooth unbroken surface, means for heating said member,a weighted tapered jaw pivoted at its front end to said stationarymember near the enlarged end thereof and shaped to form, when injuxtaposition with the stationary member, substantially acircumferential continuation of its tapered portion, and releasablemeans to move said jaw into juxtaposition withthe station-- ary member,whereby the upper portion of the sleeve of a coat may be drawn over thetapered portions of the stationary member and the jaw and the shoulderof the coat laid over the enlarged end of the stationary member, saidjaw being so constructed and arranged that when released it will drawthe sleeve and adjacent parts of the coat against the outer surfaces ofthe heated stationary respond to the inner contour of the shoulder andupper sleeve portion of a coat, said member extending rearwardlytherefrom to its rear end with a smooth unbroken surface, means forheating said members, a pair of weighted tapered jaws, each pivoted atits front end to one of said stationary members near the enlarged endthereof and. shaped to form, when in juxtaposition with its respectivestationary member substantially a circumferential continuation thereof,and a treadle arranged to move said jaws into juxtaposition with thestationary members, whereby the upper portions of the sleeves of a coatmay be drawn over the rearwardly extending portions of the stationarymembers and the jaws and the shoulders of the coat laid over theenlarged ends of the stationary members, said jaws being so constructedand so arranged that when the treadle is released the jaws will draw thesleeves and adjacent parts of the coat against the outer surfaces of theheated stationary members.

3. A substantially horizontal stationary member having an enlarged endhaving its end and upper surfaces approximately at right angles to eachother and shaped to correspond to the inner contour of the shoulder andupper sleeve portion of a coat, said member extending rearwardlytherefrom to its rear end with a smooth unbroken surface, means forheating said member, a weighted jaw pivoted at its front end to saidstationary member near the enlarged end thereof and shaped to form, whenin juxtaposition withthe stationary member substantially acircumferential continuation thereof, and releasable means to move saidjaw into juxtaposition with the stationary member, whereby the upperportion of the sleeve of a coat may-be drawn over the rearwardlyextending portion of the stationary member and the jaw and the shoulderof the coat laid over the enlarged end of the stationary member, saidjaw being so constructed and arranged that when released it will drawthe sleeve and adjacent parts of the coat against the outer surfaces ofthe heated stationary member, said jaw having a plurality ofsubstantially concentric substantially circular descending stepsextending a distance rearwardly from the front end thereof to positivelyselectively grip the crotches of sleeves of different sizes on aselected step to draw the sleeve and adjacent parts of the coat againsttheouter surfaces of the heated stationary member.

4. A substantially horizontal stationary member having an enlarged endhaving its end and.

upper surfaces approximately at right angles to each other and shaped tocorrespond to the inner contour of the shoulder and upper sleeve portionof a coat, said member extending rearwardly therefrom to its rear endwith a smooth unbroken surface, means for heating said member, aweighted jaw pivoted at its front end to said stationary member near theenlarged end thereof and shaped to form, when in juxtaposition with thestationary member substantially a circumferential continuation thereof,and releasable means to move said jaw into juxtaposition with thestationary member, whereby the upper portion of the sleeve of a coat maybe drawn over the rearward 1y extending portion of the stationary memberand the jaw and the shoulder of the coat laid over the enlarged end ofthe stationary member, said jaw being so constructed and arranged thatwhen released it will draw the sleeve and adjacent parts of the coatagainst the outer surfaces of the heated stationary member, said jawhaving descending. means of different heights extending a distancerearwardly from the front end thereof to positively selectively grip thecrotches of sleeves of difierent sizes on selective portions thereof todraw the sleeve and adjacent parts of the coat against the outersurfaces of the heated stationary member.

5. A substantially horizontal stationary member having an enlarged endhaving its end and. upper surfaces approximately at right angles to eachother and shaped to correspond to the inner contour of the shoulder andupper sleeve portion of a coat, said member extending rearwardlytherefrom to its rear end with a smooth unbroken surface, means forheating said member, a weighted jaw pivoted at its front end to saidstationary member near the enlarged end thereof and shaped to form, whenin juxtaposition with the stationary member substantially acircumferential continuation thereof, and releasable means to move saidjaw into juxtaposition with the stationary member, whereby the upperportion of the sleeve of a coat may be drawn over the rearwardlyextending portion of the stationary member and the jaw and the shoulderof the coat laid over the enlarged end of the stationary member, saidjaw being so constructed and arranged that when released it will drawthe sleeve and adjacent parts of the coat against the outer surfaces ofthe heated stationary member, said jaw having a roughened portionextending a distance rearwardly from the front end thereof to positivelygrip the crotch of the sleeve to draw the sleeve and adjacent parts ofthe coat against the outersurfaces of the heated stationary member.

ROBERT J. BEEDE.

